Apologetics and Theology Blog Can You Be Transgender and a Christian? Stephen Bedard, March 16, 2024March 16, 2024 What does the Bible say about transgender people? Does the Bible say that being a transgender person is a sin worthy of hell? Many today would say so. The truth is that the Bible does not really address what we know today as a transgender identity: a person who identifies… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Wrong Way to Discern the Truth Stephen Bedard, February 17, 2024February 17, 2024 Christians, all along the theological spectrum, develop their beliefs over time, taking positions on certain issues. But how do we determine our position, especially when there are so many issues and multiple interpretations about what is the right way? I am going to focus here not on what to do,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Wrestling With Prayer Stephen Bedard, February 7, 2024February 7, 2024 I purposely titled this post wrestling with prayer rather than wrestling in prayer, although the latter is a good thing to do as well. Even though most Christians believe in the importance of prayer, we rarely ask the hard questions about the nature of prayer. If I asked a random… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog There Will Always Be a Place For Apologetics Stephen Bedard, January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 I have been involved in Christian apologetics in one way or another for most of my adult Christian life. Over that time, I have become disillusioned over some aspects of what I call the apologetics industry. But this is not to the time to vent about that. There are many… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is It Lying to Use Someone’s Preferred Pronouns? Stephen Bedard, December 30, 2023December 30, 2023 Imagine you meet a person and they tell you that they use the pronouns they/them or you encounter someone you know was born as a male but now identify as female and request that you use she/her as pronouns. What do you do? For those who want to be respectful… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Satanic Images, Public Buildings, and Christians Stephen Bedard, December 15, 2023December 15, 2023 There has been a recent uproar as a satanic image had been placed in the Iowa Capital Building. Now Christians frequently describe things they don’t like as “satanic.” In this case it was a display erected by the Church of Satan and so was literally satanic. Since then, a conservative… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is Heaven? Stephen Bedard, November 18, 2023November 18, 2023 Sometimes Christians get accused of being so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I understand the critique in that statement, but I’m not sure that all Christians are agreed on what we mean by heaven. Probably in statements like that, people are referring to Christians who are eager… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Walking Away From the Church the Same as Walking Away From Christ? Stephen Bedard, October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 There has been some recent discussion online, based on comments by John Piper, that walking away from the church is the same as walking away from Christ? Is this true? What I think is ironic is that much of the agreement of Piper’s statement comes from Reformed circles which believes… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Are Gay-Affirming Christians Outside of Orthodox Christianity? Stephen Bedard, October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 I believe that attitudes toward 2SLGBTQA+ people within our churches is the most divisive issue among Christians. This is a debate not just between Christians and non-Christians but also between Christians. Some more conservative Christians might reject that statement since “You cannot be a Christian and support same-sex relations.” Therefore,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Andy Stanley Leaving Biblical Christianity? Stephen Bedard, September 20, 2023October 3, 2023 Andy Stanley is one of the more polarizing figures in evangelical Christianity. For many, he is the epitome of evangelical success, building a huge church that impacts other churches around the US and abroad. For others, he is the poster child for the sacrificing biblical Christianity for pragmatic ministry. I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Should We Be Watching For the Rapture? Stephen Bedard, September 16, 2023September 16, 2023 When I came back to faith in my early 20s, I began attending a Pentecostal church. This church was extremely interested in the end-times, especially the rapture. This is not just my impression. At one point, while I was in seminary, I looked into getting credentialed with that denomination. One… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Do You Need to Believe in the Trinity to Be Saved? Stephen Bedard, September 9, 2023September 9, 2023 If I was to ask this question to a random selection of evangelical Christians, I suspect that they would overwhelmingly say that we need to believe in the Trinity to be saved. But why? Let me clarify that I am a Trinitarian Christian who believed that there is one God,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Apologetics: What It Can Be, Should Be and Should Not Be Stephen Bedard, August 5, 2023August 5, 2023 There are those who really push back against Christian apologetics, and I’m not talking about skeptics. I think that some Christians have a problem with apologetics because of a misunderstanding about apologetics. The truth is that there are different forms of apologetics, some better than others. I would like to… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Inerrancy and the Authority of the Bible Stephen Bedard, July 15, 2023July 15, 2023 For some people, the holding or rejecting to the doctrine of inerrancy is the dividing line between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Certain evangelicals see in errancy as one of the, if not the, most important battles to be fought. Once inerrancy is given up, it is a slippery slope into liberalism… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 3 Shifts That Christian Apologetics Must Make Stephen Bedard, July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 There has been a huge resurgence in Christian apologetics over the past couple of decades. It can be said, without exaggeration, that there is an entire Christian apologetics industry in place. The amount of books, podcasts, video channels, conferences, and theological degrees related to apologetics is greater than at any… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why Do Some Christians Hate 2SLGBTQIA+ People So Much? Stephen Bedard, June 23, 2023June 23, 2023 When people see the title of this post, they might push back and say it is not hatred. It is simply a disagreement about a lifestyle. That may be true about some but for others, by any definition it is hatred. You will find Christians on social media calling for… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Women in Leadership and Biblical Authority Stephen Bedard, June 10, 2023June 10, 2023 There have been some discussions on social media recently around women in pastoral leadership. This is nothing new of course. But some people have been connecting those who approve of women in leadership with an abandonment of biblical authority. This is not surprising because there is a strong overlap between… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What’s Wrong With Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act? Stephen Bedard, June 3, 2023June 3, 2023 One of the big items in the news lately has been the anti-homosexuality legislation that has been adopted in Uganda. Uganda has traditionally taken a hard stand against same-sex activity but this is the imposing of stricter sanctions. You can find the actual details of the law here. I noticed… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What’s the Difference Between Evangelicalism and Evangelism? Stephen Bedard, May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 I recently did a Twitter poll that stated that not all Christians were evangelicals. While some people disagreed with me, there were others that misunderstood me. They asked questions such as: “How can you be a Christian and not share the gospel, i.e. do evangelism?” While I was referring to… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog My Problem With the Moral Argument Stephen Bedard, May 6, 2023May 6, 2023 One of the most popular arguments for the existence of God is the moral argument. There are a number of different versions of it. Here is one that was recently shared with me on social media: (1) If God does not exist, then objective morality does not exist.(2) Objective morality… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Behold, My Mother and My Brethren! – Review Stephen Bedard, April 29, 2023April 29, 2023 I must confess that one of the Christian thinkers that I have wanted to learn more about have struggled to do successfully is Soren Kierkegaard. I have only read snippets of his work and I have plodded through a few short introductions. What I am much more comfortable reading is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is the Christian View of the Possession of Firearms? Stephen Bedard, March 29, 2023March 31, 2023 Sadly, we usually only go a few week before hearing about another school shooting. While we should be grieving for the dead and for the loved one left behind, it usually turns into a debate about gun control. So what is the Christian view on the possession of firearms and… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is the Christian View of Human Origins? Stephen Bedard, March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 How did God create humanity and when did he do it? Many people wrestle with this question and I have held a number of different positions over the years. Growing up in church, this question never came up. If you had asked me back then it would probably have been… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is the Eternal Fate of Non-Christians? Stephen Bedard, March 10, 2023March 10, 2023 If you were to ask the average person on the street what they think Christianity says about where people go when they die, they would probably respond with: “Either heaven or hell.” Is the Christian position as simple as heaven or hell? For some people, it would be that simple…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is the Bible Clear? Stephen Bedard, March 8, 2023March 8, 2023 When I hear people claiming that their theological position is correct, one of the most frequent statements is something like “The Bible is clear…” The point is that since the Bible is clear, people should not be disagreeing with this theological position. But how clear is the Bible? I recently… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Things I Have learned About Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, March 2, 2023March 2, 2023 I have been involved in Christian apologetics pretty much since I returned to faith in my early 20s. It was a natural step as I came from being an atheist and was still looking for answers. While I would not consider myself a “professional” apologist, I think I have learned… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is the Role of Christian Apologetics? Stephen Bedard, February 24, 2023February 24, 2023 There has been a huge renaissance in Christian apologetics, ranging from the scholar to the pastor to the layperson. But what is the role of the Christian apologist? What should be their goal? I discuss this in this episode based on a video I recorded. For more on Christian apologetics,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Apologetics For Teens – Review Stephen Bedard, February 17, 2023February 17, 2023 I recently received two books in the Apologetics For Teens series written by Bethany Kaldas. They are put out by an Orthodox publisher but represent what C.S. Lewis refers to as “mere Christianity.” One is called Did Jesus Rise From the Dead? It features the basic evidence for the resurrection… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Thoughts on Revival Stephen Bedard, February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 As I write this, there is a revival going on at Asbury University. This is drawing a lot of attention. This is not the first nor the last revival that has come our way. About twenty-five years ago, I lived near Toronto and I visited the Toronto Blessing numerous times…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Has the Archbishop of Canterbury Threatened to Punish Those Who Support Traditional Marriage? Stephen Bedard, February 9, 2023February 9, 2023 The Anglican Church is in great turmoil at the moment over how to deal with same-sex marriage. How does the head of the church, Justin Welby, fit into this? I saw an outrageous claim on Twitter. In the article attached to that tweet, there is this comment: “This is a… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 2 Reasons I’m Still in the Church Stephen Bedard, February 1, 2023February 1, 2023 There is a lot about the church that I get discouraged about and it would be normal to question why I would want to be a part of it. I have seen Christian leaders fall, not just into sin but into abuse. And not “slimy” leaders that you might suspect… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Things You Might Not Know About the Bible and the Afterlife Stephen Bedard, January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 Many people equate religion with belief in the afterlife and some might even expect that to be the driving force behind most religions. When it comes to the Bible, most people understand the afterlife in fairly clear categories of heaven and hell. The truth is that what most people think… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Theology, Labels, and Making Assumptions Stephen Bedard, January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 You encounter a person and there is a label attached to them. It may be progressive or evangelical or charismatic or reformed. Does that label tell you everything you need to know about their beliefs? Labels are useful but limited in explanatory power. The truth is that most of the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Christians, Poverty, and What We Should Do Stephen Bedard, January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 What role should the church play when it comes to helping the poor? In my early 20s, after time growing up in a liberal church and then away from church as an atheist, I joined a very conservative church. The view there was that helping the poor could be tolerable… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Are We in the End Times? Stephen Bedard, December 28, 2022December 28, 2022 Worldwide pandemics. Russia invading another European nation. Does all of this mean that we are now in the end times? That’s what we look at in this episode. Please support this podcast through Patreon. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Have I Deconstructed My Faith? Stephen Bedard, December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 Deconstruction is one of the most widely discussed topics within the church today. People have widely varied views on deconstruction, seeing it as the greatest danger to the church to seeing it as the greatest hope for the church. Part of what needs to be discussed is what we mean… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Theological Questions Should Not Be Discouraged Stephen Bedard, December 17, 2022December 17, 2022 After a time in my teens and early twenties as an atheist, I returned to the church and discovered a personal faith. A major part of that was reading the Bible and wrestling with the things I was encountering. I quickly embraced a love for the Bible and an interest… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog A Plea to Contemporary Christian Apologists Stephen Bedard, December 10, 2022December 10, 2022 I truly believe that there will always be a need for Christian apologetics. What that apologetics looks like might shift from era to era but it will always be important. However, I have seen a change in how Christian apologetics is undertaken and it concerns me. I see an increasing… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Bible Reading, Interpretation, and Confidence Stephen Bedard, December 8, 2022December 8, 2022 I often talk about the process of interpreting when it comes to the Bible. I don’t mean the practical steps of interpretation, although I’m very interested in that, but rather the theological implications of interpretation. The statement that I am often trying to respond to is: “The Bible clearly says…”… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Andy Stanley a Heretic… Again? Stephen Bedard, November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 Andy Stanley keeps getting in trouble with evangelicals over some of his teachings. Remember when he suggested people unhitch from the Old Testament? Well he has gone and done it again. You can watch a clip from an interview Andy Stanley did with Ed Stetzer. A number of evangelicals are… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is David French Celebrating Same-Sex Marriage? Stephen Bedard, November 22, 2022November 22, 2022 One of the more controversial figures in conservative figures is David French. French was known for a long time as a respected conservative commentator. But in recent years, he has become much more moderate. His critics would say progressive. Recently, many conservatives on social media have attacked French over his… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog It is Okay to Struggle With the Bible Stephen Bedard, November 19, 2022November 19, 2022 The most important book for Christians is the Bible. It is important for us to read it, study it, and reflect upon its teachings. But what happens when we find it confusing or even disturbing? I remember when I cam back to faith in my early 20s after a childhood… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog It’s Not About Winning the Culture War Stephen Bedard, November 10, 2022November 10, 2022 I find that there are many Christians, both conservative and liberal, who fall into the same trap. They put much of their effort into winning the culture war. What is the culture war? Here is one definition: Culture war is the cultural conflict between social groups and the struggle for… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Trinity Journal of Natural & Philosophical Theology Stephen Bedard, November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 For as long as there is Christianity, there is a need for apologetics. Much of the apologetics work that takes place is on the popular level, and that is much needed. But there is also a need for scholarly work. There is a new journal that deals with a number… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog We Don’t Have to Fully Understand Prayer Stephen Bedard, October 29, 2022October 29, 2022 For many people, prayer is a simple topic. You ask God for something and God decides whether or not to grant the request. There’s not much to think about. Or is there? What actually happens when we pray? When we pray, does God take into consideration our request and adjust… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Does Christian Love Look Like? Stephen Bedard, October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 I have been thinking a lot about the role of love in the Christian life and what that looks like. Two different things have been bringing this together. One is preaching through 1 John at our church and the other is some Twitter interactions with some very conservative evangelicals. It… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Evangelical Christianity is Not the Only True Christianity Stephen Bedard, October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 I was raised in a liberal mainline church. I will admit that during the majority of my time in that congregation, I did not take my faith that seriously. It was while attending that church that I ended up becoming an atheist. After I returned to faith, I also returned… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog We All Interpret the Bible Stephen Bedard, October 1, 2022October 1, 2022 Some people are extremely confident in their interpretation of the Bible. So much so, they will claim that what they say is not an interpretation but the direct voice of the Bible itself. They get frustrated when people disagree with their interpretation because those people are not disagreeing with an… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How “Faithful” Christians Must Vote Stephen Bedard, September 17, 2022September 17, 2022 Albert Mohler recently caused a stir when he suggested that faithful Christians have only one option when it comes to voting, and while he didn’t name the party, it was evident to all that it was the Republican Party. The implication is that those who do not vote for that… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Does 1 Corinthians 13 teach Cessationism? Stephen Bedard, September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 There are many Christians who believe that the gifts of the Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 ended, either with the death of the apostles or the completion of the New Testament (they are not sure which). Instead of just accepting their assertion, I tend to request some biblical support… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Cessationism and the Sufficiency of Scripture Stephen Bedard, September 1, 2022September 1, 2022 While this generalization lacks some nuance, there are Christians who believe that God only speaks through Scripture and those who believe that God speaks through other means today as well. I understand that there are cessationists, those who believe the sign gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 are no longer available,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is There Such a Thing as a “Gay Christian”? Stephen Bedard, August 4, 2022 I recently got into a discussion with someone on Twitter over a comment he made. He stated: “Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a gay Christian.” This was part of a series of tweets expressing views designed to be provocative. I wanted to respond to this… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why Do You Read the Bible? Stephen Bedard, July 22, 2022July 22, 2022 My goal is not to tell you why you should read the Bible but to get you to ask yourself why you are currently reading the Bible. What are you trying to get out of it. It is common for our purpose to change over time and possibly for there… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Widening of the Theological Gap Stephen Bedard, July 16, 2022July 16, 2022 I have not done research on this and this is just an observation based on conversations and scanning of discussions among people on social media. It is also based on what I see within denominations. There seems to be a growing gap among Christians with the conservatives becoming more conservatives… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why There is No Persecution of Christians in Canada Stephen Bedard, June 29, 2022June 29, 2022 I recently recorded a new video that I called “The So-Called Canadian Persecution of the Church.” You can watch it at the bottom of this post. At the time I am writing this, I have had a number of comments, all of them completely disagreeing with my dismissal of a… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Christians and the Overturning of Roe v Wade Stephen Bedard, June 25, 2022June 25, 2022 Many Christians are rejoicing over the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v Wade and what that means for the availability of abortion. I am not going to go into the legal ramifications and what this will mean for abortion access in each of the states. That is not my area…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog In Defence of Winsome Christianity Stephen Bedard, June 15, 2022June 15, 2022 Should Christians seek to be winsome in their interactions with the non-Christian world? That is becoming more and more of a debate, partially based around Tim Keller’s thoughts on this. You can get caught up a bit on what Tim Keller says and how his critics have responded here. First,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How Important is Theological Uniformity? Stephen Bedard, June 4, 2022June 4, 2022 You are a part of a Christian congregation. You are united by a common faith in Jesus Christ. But what happens if there are disagreements in other areas? How much diversity is acceptable? I remember talking to another Baptist pastor in our former association. He was concerned that some of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog We Don’t Need to Have All the Answers Stephen Bedard, May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 There have been times in my Christian journey that I wanted to know all the answers. Not just to be able to share them with others in apologetic conversations but for my own comfort. I saw the value of a tight theological system that had an explanation for everything. The… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Christian Apologetics Only For Conservative Evangelicals? Stephen Bedard, April 30, 2022April 30, 2022 What type of Christian is apologetics for? Is it for just conservative evangelicals or is it something that all Christians can benefit from? It is interesting that I ask this question because I asked something similar about disability theology. In this post, I recognized that liberal churches are more active… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Hollywood Heroes – Review Stephen Bedard, April 19, 2022April 19, 2022 I am a huge fan of comic book movies, as well as science fiction/fantasy. I am also a Christian who seeks to communicate the truth of the gospel. When all of this comes together, I am very happy. Thanks to Frank and Zach Turek and their book, Hollywood Heroes, we… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Disney Grooming Children to be Victims of Pedophiles? Stephen Bedard, April 2, 2022April 11, 2022 If you have been on Twitter lately, you will be aware there is a widespread campaign to #boycottdisney. This is more than just about a disagreement over direction. The accusations are quite harsh. Here is an example: What is going on here? There are actually two things. One is Disney’s… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Role Does Apologetics Have in Evangelism? Stephen Bedard, April 1, 2022April 23, 2022 I frequently hear comments that apologetics is not very useful in evangelism and that “no one” comes to faith through apologetics. I’m not convinced that is accurate. In fact I know people who faith journey was greatly influenced by apologetics. So how does apologetics fit with evangelism? One way is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Evangelicals, Trans Athletes and Respect Stephen Bedard, March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 With the increased openness in our society to transgendered people, we have had to navigate some new territory. One of these is that of trans athletes and women’s sports. Trans athletes in men’s sport doesn’t seem to be an issue. There are some examples of trans women competing in women’s… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Andy Stanley, Jesus, and the Bible Stephen Bedard, March 9, 2022March 9, 2022 Popular pastor, Andy Stanley, got in hot water with evangelicals once again over one of his recent Tweets. He said this: As you can see, this Tweet has since been deleted. People were quite upset about this. Some going as far as suggesting that Stanley is falling into heresy. But… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jesus-Centred Apologetics Stephen Bedard, March 5, 2022April 23, 2022 I have been involved in Christian apologetics for as long as I have been a Christian. I still believe in apologetics, despite all of the suggestions that the time for apologetics is over. However, there has been a shift in how I go about apologetics. This is not meant to… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What Kind of Christians Are “Real” Christians? Stephen Bedard, February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 I recently did a Twitter poll about conservative and non-conservative Christians. I had a number of people state matter of factly that non-conservative Christians are not Christians. Really? This is nothing new. I know numerous protestants who are confident that Roman Catholics are not Christians. To be fair, there are… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Do Laypeople Need Theological Education? Stephen Bedard, February 9, 2022February 9, 2022 If a person is not planning on becoming a pastor or a professor, is there any point in getting a theological education? Absolutely! There was a time when when theological education was limited to those who would use it professionally. But those days are long gone. Not only that, theological… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Inerrancy Essential to the Gospel? Stephen Bedard, January 27, 2022January 27, 2022 There have been some recent disagreements about the importance of the inerrancy of the Bible. That there is this disagreement means that there are disagreements over whether the Bible is inerrant, even among Christians. There are Christians who believe that inerrancy is an essential doctrine. For some, this means that… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Do People Become Christians Through Apologetics? Stephen Bedard, January 20, 2022January 20, 2022 I still hear claims from people that apologetics is ineffective in bringing people to faith. Really? And how do they know that? I suspect that what is really going is that certain people feel that apologetics played no role in their own coming to faith. That is fair, but that… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Can You Celebrate Communion Like That? Stephen Bedard, January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 I have seen a number of discussions about communion on social media recently. Some of them got pretty heated and I got involved in at least one of them myself. t should not be surprising that people get worked up about communion. Some of the biggest disagreements between Roman Catholics… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog How Certain Do We Need to Be in Our Faith? Stephen Bedard, December 15, 2021December 15, 2021 This is an interesting question to reflect on. You could say that I’m not certain how to respond. A good place to begin might be my own nature. I am a skeptic by nature. It was skepticism that caused me first to walk away from the church. It was skepticism… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Origins of Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, December 1, 2021December 1, 2021 Although we can see the beginnings of Christian apologetics in the New Testament in the ministries of Peter and Paul, apologetics really got going in the second century. It is here that we see Christian thinkers writing “Apologies,” defences of the Christian faith in a systematic fashion. The focus was… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What is a Theologian? Stephen Bedard, November 30, 2021November 30, 2021 I recently asked a question on Twitter about whether a person needs a PhD to be a theologian. You can see the results below. Must a person hold a PhD to be considered a theologian? — Stephen Bedard 🇨🇦 (@SJBedard) November 29, 2021 If you check out the comments, you… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Apologists Should Not Try to Prove That Christianity is True Stephen Bedard, November 11, 2021November 11, 2021 What is the role of Christian apologetics? For many people, both believers and nonbelievers, the assumption is that it is to prove that Christianity is true. I want to argue that is not a good goal. First of all, it is impossible to prove that Christianity is true. Part of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Bible Has Been Translated So Many Times… Stephen Bedard, November 4, 2021November 4, 2021 What I am referring here to is not the abundance of English translations of the Bible but rather a common criticism of the reliability of the Bible. The idea is that the Bible has been translated so many times that we should have some serious doubts that we even have… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Least Helpful Tactic in a Theological Discussion Stephen Bedard, November 2, 2021November 2, 2021 It is good for people with different interpretations to discuss their differences. Even within the church, we do not have to agree on every little thing. In fact this diversity can enhance the beauty of the church. However, I have noticed a trend in theological discussions, something especially prevalent in… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Inerrancy and the Trustworthiness of Scripture Stephen Bedard, October 15, 2021October 15, 2021 For some Christians, a strong doctrine of inerrancy is essential to have any trust in the Bible. A good example of this is The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. Part of the preface to that statement states: The following Statement affirms this inerrancy of Scripture afresh, making clear our understanding… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Gospel vs The Culture War Stephen Bedard, October 2, 2021October 2, 2021 What happens when the gospel comes into conflict with the culture war? but does that even happen? First, we will have to make some definitions. What is the gospel? Some people narrow the gospel down to believing that Jesus died for us so we can go to heaven. You would… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Questions to Ask When You Disagree With Another Christian Stephen Bedard, September 23, 2021September 23, 2021 Christians disagree with one another. This happens all of the time. I’m not talking about disagreeing about fashion or music or television shows. I’m thinking more about disagreements about Christian faith and practice. These disagreements have been around since the beginning. Check out this message I gave about the Jerusalem… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Things About Jesus That We Need to Emphasize Stephen Bedard, September 2, 2021September 2, 2021 The reason that I am a Christian is because of Jesus. There are many other interesting religions and some wise religious and philosophical teachings but Jesus is unique. I try to focus on Jesus as much as I can. Some people seem to think that the only message we need… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 3 Things Apologists Should Avoid Stephen Bedard, August 27, 2021August 27, 2021 There will always be a need for Christians to share the reasons for the hope they have within them. Christian apologetics, in one form or another, will always be with us. But some things are more helpful than others. Here are some things that Christian apologists should avoid. Sadly, they… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Pastors as Theologians Stephen Bedard, August 21, 2021August 21, 2021 I will often hear pastors preface their remarks with “I’m not a theologian, but…” The problem with this statement is that it is wrong. Pastors are theologians. People have gotten it into their heads that if they do not have a PhD in theology, they are not theologians. There were… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Christian Apologists and Culture Warriors Stephen Bedard, August 7, 2021August 7, 2021 I have been involved in Christian apologetics for a long time. It has been an important part of my personal discipleship, influenced, no doubt, by my background as an atheist. I firmly believe that Christian apologetics continues to be extremely useful, both for helping seekers and as discipleship for believers…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Initial Thoughts on Deconstruction Stephen Bedard, July 28, 2021February 9, 2022 There has been a lot of talk about deconstruction when it comes to religious faith. Some people are very concerned about it. I think part of it is that some people equate “deconstruction” with “deconversion.” It is true that some people who experience deconstruction of faith do become either agnostics… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversation’s With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Interpreting the Bible Stephen Bedard, June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 I started meeting again with the Jehovah’s Witness that I had been meeting with a year or so back. I’m not thinking I’m going to convert him, but it is a way for me to learn. What I’m looking for is not to debate the fine details, such as the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Adam Quest – Review Stephen Bedard, June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 One of the most controversial conversations among Christians is that of human origins. What were the means by which God brought about the human race? Is the earth thousands of years old or millions of years old? Too often this conversation produces more heat than light. People are so passionate… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Can Christians Use the Enneagram? Stephen Bedard, June 23, 2021June 23, 2021 There is some controversy about Christians using the Enneagram. The Enneagram is basically a personality test, although it is more complicated than that. Some Christians absolutely love the Enneagram and see it as an essential tool of understanding ourselves and being aware of our strengths and weaknesses. Other Christians see… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog “The Bible Clearly Says…” Stephen Bedard, June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Whenever there is a controversial issue being discussed, very often someone will begin a statement with “The Bible clearly says” and then whatever they want to express. Is that a helpful way to debate important topics? The problem with saying “the Bible clearly says” is what we really mean is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jesus Loves Canaanites – Review Stephen Bedard, May 28, 2021September 2, 2021 The Bible is an amazing book and it is the foundation for much of western morality, even if many atheists do not want to admit it. Even so, there are parts of the Bible that makes us uncomfortable. The killing of the Canaanites and other groups are a notable example…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog My Biggest Problems With Evangelicalism Stephen Bedard, May 21, 2021May 27, 2021 I was raised in a liberal mainline church that I felt was too theologically shallow for me to continue in. I went from there to a Pentecostal church that was more zealous in the faith but still had some problems. It was during that chapter in my life that I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 5 Reasons I Don’t Believe That Canadian Christians Are Being Persecuted Stephen Bedard, May 11, 2021May 11, 2021 I continue to get a steady stream of claims that Christians in Canada are being persecuted. This is based on a handful of cases of churches getting trouble with the law for going against the health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is that the Canadian government is targeting… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why I Have Not Given Up on Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, April 9, 2021April 9, 2022 In my previous post, I shared why I often consider giving up on Christian apologetics. In this post, I will share why I have not given up on apologetics. Many of the things that we value are based on personal experience. For example, disability theology is very important to me… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why I Often Consider Quitting Christian Apologetics Stephen Bedard, April 8, 2021April 9, 2021 Many people know me as someone involved in Christian apologetics. I have often identified as an apologist. What you might not know is that I often consider giving up on apologetics. Why would I do that? Is it because I doubt the truth of Christianity? Not at all. It is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why I Believe in the Resurrection Stephen Bedard, April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 The resurrection of Jesus is one of the main reasons that I am a Christian. But why do I believe in the resurrection. In this video I take a look at 1 Corinthian 15:3-8 and explain why I think the resurrection is believable. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Real Victims of Ravi Zacharias Stephen Bedard, February 27, 2021February 27, 2021 There has been a lot of talk since the revelations of how bad Ravi Zacharias’s sexual abuse was. Much of the discussion has either been about how leaders can protect themselves of how hard it has been for Christian apologists to lose a hero. In this podcast and video, I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Do All Roads Lead to God? Stephen Bedard, February 19, 2021February 19, 2021 We live in a society that is no longer monolithic when it comes to religions. There was a day when religious diversity was having Protestants and Roman Catholics together in the same room. While it is good that we can encounter people with other religious views, this does force us… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Problem With Ravi Zacharias was Not Just Sex Stephen Bedard, February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 I have been writing on controversies about Ravi Zacharias for some time. First we knew that there were some credibility issues, then some sexual allegations and then even more revelations. The report on the full extent of what Ravi Zacharias did has been released. It is worse than what we… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 3 Reasons I Still Write About Apologetics Stephen Bedard, February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 Apologetics has been a huge part of my faith ever since I made a personal commitment to Jesus in my mid-20s. I have written a lot on Christian apologetics ever since. While my interests have broadened, especially in the intersection of disabilities, apologetics is still very important to me. I… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name – Review Stephen Bedard, February 6, 2021February 6, 2021 It is common to hear about Muslims converting to Christianity. If you search, you will find all sorts of resources for sharing the gospel with Muslims. But what happens when Muslims convert? That is where I Will Give Them an Everlasting Name by Duane Miller comes in. This short book… Continue Reading